Our chapter is dedicated to preserving the memory and honoring the sacrifice of Marvin Glenn Shields, the only Seabee to receive the Medal of Honor.

Marvin G. Shields was born December 30, 1939 in Port Townsend, Washington. He graduated from high school in 1958 and moved to Hyder, Alaska, where he worked the goldmines.

He enlisted in the Navy on January 8, 1962. After construction training, he served with Mobile Construction Battalion 11, and was with Seabee Team 1104 at Dong Xoai, South Vietnam, June 10, 1965, when a Viet Cong regiment attacked. After being wounded, Shields continued to carry up ammunition to the firing line, and after receiving a second wound, insisted on helping a more severely wounded soldier to safety. Refusing to consider himself and now greatly weakened, he again exposed himself to enemy fire, volunteering to help knock out a machine gun which had the entire camp pinned down. Shields died from wounds he received after he and others “succeeded in destroying the enemy machine gun emplacement, thus undoubtedly saving the lives of many of their fellow servicemen in the compound.” Marvin Shields was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor September 13, 1966. He is buried at Gardiner Cemetery. His name is listed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Panel 02E, Row 007. The Seabees hold a memorial ceremony each year at his gravesite in Gardiner, Washington. The U.S. Navy named a destroyer escort in his honor. The USS Marvin Shields was commissioned in 1969 and remained in service for 21 years.The Marvin G. Shields Memorial Marker was given by Mrs. Richard McCurdy in memory of Marvin Shields. The inscription reads: “Courage and Patriotism above and beyond the Call of Duty.” Marvin Shields, CMAS U.S. 1939-1965